The Audioengine A2+ is a pair of entry-level active speakers which provide plenty of value to its users and deliver excellent sonic performance at an affordable price. Enabling audiophiles and casual listeners alike to set up a high-quality desktop sound system without breaking the bank. The compact size of the A2+ makes them one of the most ideal speakers for desktop use, not to mention, there are loads of features to accommodate modern-day music listeners. Their small size does also limit their sonic performance in some way though.
Audioengine A2+ small footprints allow them to be easily positioned almost anywhere on the desktop but this also means they are unable to deliver music as larger bookshelf speakers could. It uses 0.75″ silk dome tweeters and 2.75″ aramid fiber woofers which are considered small speaker drivers. The frequency response of 65Hz-22kHz does indicate that the A2+ active speakers are able to deliver quite a deep bass for their size. Still, the built-in amplifier power (Class AB) of 15 Watts RMS per channel is not high-powered enough to reproduce impactful bass frequencies.
The overall sound reproduction of the Audioengine A2+ has a bright treble with nice clarity and is fuller sounding than expected. Bass performance is surprisingly ample due to the emphasis on the midbass but when it comes to deep bass reproduction, you can immediately tell it is lacking. The scale of the sound and the staging is decent in size and that is as expected from compact speakers. The stereo imaging and accuracy are good, the Audioengine A2+ also has a detailed music presentation. For desktop speakers of their size, the A2+ is well worth the investment, and as mentioned they also come with features, one of which will help us resolve the bass performance issue.
More Details at Amazon – Audioengine A2+ Desktop Monitor Speakers (Black)
You can connect an active subwoofer via the Audioengine A2+ line-out and with a sub supplementing the bass performance, your desktop sound system will be able to deliver deep bass frequencies which these speakers are unable to produce. Having a subwoofer in your sound system will provide a punchier music performance and deliver more impact. It will be great for home theater use and gaming as both entertainments will require a sound system that can deliver very deep bass frequencies prominently so as to be able to enjoy an exhilarating audio experience. Integrating a subwoofer into your desktop sound system will be a lot more affordable than getting a pair of full-range loudspeakers with high-powered amplifiers.
We are preparing a list of the best subwoofers which you can go for and partner with the Audioengine A2+ speakers. Before you start checking out the list, you might want to run through the potential subwoofer requirements. By going through a checklist of requirements, it will further help you to solidify the type of powered subs you will need. And so without further ado, let us start with the subwoofer requirements first.
Table of Contents
Audioengine A2+ Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way (Front-firing bass slot)
- Drive Units: 0.75″ Silk Dome Tweeter, 2.75″ Aramid Fiber Woofer
- Frequency Response: 65Hz-22kHz
- Power Rating: 15 Watts RMS per channel, 30 Watts Peak per channel
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 152mm x 102mm x 133mm | 6″ x 4″ x 5.3″
- Weight: Left 1.6kg (3.6lbs), Right 1.4kg (3.2lbs)
Your Main Subwoofer Requirements
If you are sharing your desktop sound system with someone, you might want to go through the subwoofer requirements checklist together and seek their opinions as well. The first thing to do will be to work out a budget where you and other users are comfortable in forking out to purchase the subwoofer. The higher the budget, the more choices you can go for. You might want to look at the types of music you are listening to and see if most of them are bass-heavy. If they are, then you probably want a sealed subwoofer that is capable of digging deep into the bass extension, usually down to 20Hz will be a safer option.
For listeners who watch movies a lot, getting a subwoofer that can reach down to 20Hz or below will be a good idea and you might want to go with a ported subwoofer instead. Ported subwoofers are more efficient when it comes to bass output and they usually can deliver more low frequencies than a sealed sub in the same price range. This is why home theater enthusiasts mainly prefer ported subs over sealed cabinets when it comes to HT use. For nearfield listening, you might only need a subwoofer that you can fit in the space near you. If you are planning to play your sound system in medium to large size rooms, you will need a larger and more powerful subwoofer to fill the space. In such cases, you might want to go with bigger speakers too as the Audioengine A2+ won’t be able to handle these room sizes.
Limited space will be an issue, you should look around your room to see how much available space you will have for the subwoofer. If you are facing space constraints, getting a wireless or compact subwoofer will be recommended. Subwoofers are usually bulky and don’t look as pleasing as speakers, so usually, listeners will hide them in a corner. You might want to discuss with your spouse/loved ones if the available space in the listening room will be used for other bulky items because the subwoofer will take up a permanent space in the room. These are some of the subwoofer requirements which you should consider and also add a few more of your own onto the checklist. When you are ready, please take a look at the list of the best subwoofers we have prepared for you, they are all well-matched with the Audioengine A2+ active speakers.
Best Subwoofers to match with Audioengine A2+
The Audioengine S8 will be one of the best subwoofers to match with your Audioengine A2+ active speakers. They are both aesthetically matching and should have similar sound signatures since they are designed by the same company. It uses Class D amplification and has a power output of 125 Watts RMS with a peak of 250 Watts. The frequency response is 27Hz-180kHz which is quite impressive for an 8″ subwoofer at this price point. Audioengine S8 has a front-ported design and can go pretty loud for a subwoofer of this size. The punchy performance is entertaining and will be ideal for HT use.
More Information at Amazon – Audioengine S8 Powered Subwoofer (Black)
If the music listening experience is very important to you then the SVS SB-1000 Pro will be an amazing choice to match with the Audioengine A2+ speakers. It is a powerful sealed cabinet subwoofer with a peak power of 820 Watts, all thanks to the highly efficient built-in Sledge STA-325D amplifier. This subwoofer not only can handle most bass demands but also produce articulate bass performance with agility. It has a 12″ subwoofer driver and will be more than enough for nearfield listening, easily filling a small room with exceptional bass energy. The SVS SB-1000 Pro is definitely a worthy partner for your Audioengine A2+ speakers.
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
For listeners who have tight budgets, the Elac SUB1010 will be an excellent choice for you and your Audioengine A2+ active speakers. The SUB1010 is very affordably priced and highly rated by many of its satisfied users. This is a 10″ subwoofer with up to 120 Watts peak power and uses a Class AB amplifier. It is capable of producing deep bass frequencies of down to 38Hz which will be good enough for most music genres. For a subwoofer at this price point, it is quite difficult for us to nitpick but we will suggest you audition the Elac SUB1010 first before making your final decision.
More Information at Amazon – Elac SUB1010 10″ Powered Subwoofer
The Klipsch R-12SW is another amazing subwoofer with a very modest price tag, not to mention, extremely highly rated and well-received by many of its satisfied users. The R-12SW digital amplifier delivers 400 Watts of dynamic power and the bass frequencies are delivered via its 12″ copper-spun front-firing woofer. It has a rear bass port and you can place the sub nearer to the back walls so that they can reinforce the bass output and make it more pronounced. Klipsch R-12SW will partner really well with the Audioengine A2+ speakers and for a subwoofer at this price point, it certainly has outstanding performance.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW
The HSU Research VTF-2 MK5 is one of the best subwoofers to match with the Audioengine A2+. It has a unique hybrid design where you can switch between sealed operating mode to ported. Giving flexibility to its users and great for listeners who can’t decide on getting a sealed or ported cabinet subwoofer. It is also a very powerful subwoofer, the HSU Research VTF-2 MK5 has 350 Watts of continuous power and goes up to 1400 Watts peak power (short-term). The VTF-2 MK5 can reach really deep into the bass extension, down to 16Hz with 1 port open, and is really impressive for a subwoofer at this price point.
For listeners who prefer using wireless subwoofers, you can check out the Audioengine S8 Wireless Subwoofer which comes with the W3 Wireless Adaptor. If you prefer subwoofers with more focus on performance and bass quality, you should take a look at the powered subs made by the Rythmik Audio. Their entry-level L12 subwoofer will be a good start. SVS is another reputable subwoofer maker and it is definitely worth your time to check out their subs such as the one we have mentioned earlier, the SB-1000 Pro and SVS PB-1000 Pro which uses a ported cabinet design.
More Details at Amazon – Audioengine S8 Wireless Subwoofer
More Details at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best subwoofers which you can go for and their price points are quite close to Audioengine A2+. It is highly recommended to audition them first before seriously considering getting any of the subwoofers listed here. We will also suggest auditioning these subwoofers in your own listening room if that is possible as this will provide a more accurate result. You will notice a significant improvement in bass performance when pairing a sub with the Audioengine A2+ so this list is certainly worth your time to look through.
